System and method of alternative tracking upon disabling of monitoring device

Abstract

A method is provided. The method includes: establishing a database of a plurality of individuals, data for each individual including identity, short range wireless device information, and at least one rule regarding expected interaction by the individual relative to the area; receiving probe signal information from a plurality of sensors around an area, each of the sensors being configured to receive probe signals from proximate wireless devices, the probe signals lacking information directly identifying an owner of the originating wireless device; cross referencing at least some of the received probe signals with at least a portion of the database; identifying, based at least on the cross referencing, a presence of an unauthorized individual in the area; and notifying a supervising authority of the identified unauthorized individual.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 establishing a database of a plurality of individuals, data for each individual including identity and short range wireless device information; 
 receiving, from a personal portable wireless device, probe signal information identifying short range probe signals received by the personal portable wireless device from proximate wireless devices, the short range probe signals lacking information directly identifying an owner of an originating proximate wireless device; 
 cross referencing at least some of the received probe signal information with at least a portion of the database; 
 identifying, based at least on the cross referencing, a presence of an anomaly from an inconsistency between at least some of the received probe signal information and one or more predetermined rules; and 
 notifying a supervising authority of the anomaly. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is that the personal portable wireless device may not be proximate to a prohibited individual, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices proximate to the personal portable wireless device at a given time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device over a period of time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more different wireless devices than the maximum number over the period of time. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device when the personal portable wireless device is moving above a predetermined speed, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number when the personal portable wireless device was moving above the predetermined speed. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the maximum number is zero. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the predetermined rules defines times and/or locations that a particular individual is authorized to be near the personal portable wireless device, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual at a time and/or location that was not authorized. 
     
     
       8. A non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions which when executed by a system including electronic computer hardware in combination with software cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a database of a plurality of individuals, data for each individual including identity and short range wireless device information; 
 receiving, from a personal portable wireless device, probe signal information identifying short range probe signals received by the personal portable wireless device from proximate wireless devices, the short range probe signals lacking information directly identifying an owner of an originating proximate wireless device; 
 cross referencing at least some of the received probe signal information with at least a portion of the database; 
 identifying, based at least on the cross referencing, a presence of an anomaly from an inconsistency between at least some of the received probe signal information and one or more predetermined rules; and 
 notifying a supervising authority of the anomaly. 
 
     
     
       9. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is that the personal portable wireless device may not be proximate to a prohibited individual, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual. 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices proximate to the personal portable wireless device at a given time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number. 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device over a period of time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more different wireless devices than the maximum number over the period of time. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device when the personal portable wireless device is moving above a predetermined speed, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number when the personal portable wireless device was moving above the predetermined speed. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 12 , wherein one of the predetermined rules defines times and/or locations that a particular individual is authorized to be near the personal portable wireless device. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein one of the predetermined rules defines times and/or locations that a particular individual is authorized to be near the personal portable wireless device, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual at a time and/or location that was not authorized. 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions; 
 a processor programmed to cooperate with the instructions in memory to cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a database of a plurality of individuals, data for each individual including identity and short range wireless device information; 
 receiving, from a personal portable wireless device, probe signal information identifying short range probe signals received by the personal portable wireless device from proximate wireless devices, the short range probe signals lacking information directly identifying an owner of an originating proximate wireless device; 
 cross referencing at least some of the received probe signal information with at least a portion of the database; 
 identifying, based at least on the cross referencing, a presence of an anomaly from an inconsistency between at least some of the received probe signal information and one or more predetermined rules; and 
 notifying a supervising authority of the anomaly. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is that the personal portable wireless device may not be proximate to a prohibited individual, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices proximate to the personal portable wireless device at a given time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device over a period of time, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more different wireless devices than the maximum number over the period of time. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 15 , wherein one of the predetermined rules is a maximum number of wireless devices consistently proximate to the personal portable wireless device when the personal portable wireless device is moving above a predetermined speed, and the anomaly is that the personal portable wireless device consistently received short range probe signals from more wireless devices than the maximum number when the personal portable wireless device was moving above the predetermined speed. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 15 , wherein one of the predetermined rules defines times and/or locations that a particular individual is authorized to be near the personal portable wireless device, and the anomaly is the personal portable wireless device received at least one short range probe signal from a wireless device identified by the cross referencing as belonging to the prohibited individual at a time and/or location that was not authorized.